Leaders of Congressional Black Caucus and civil rights groups demand inclusion of public option

[Better Believe It]

But on Capitol Hill, leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus and of nearly a dozen African American civil rights groups gathered to declare their unwavering support Wednesday morning for the inclusion of a public option in health-care reform.

"We are strong on that -- 41 strong," said Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.).

"We are in a movement, a modern-day civil rights movement," said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.). "Without a robust public plan, there is no guarantee of change."

Caucus members said they want any reform legislation to preserve measures that would bolster preventive medicine and reduce health disparities.

"As the health-care debate continues to heat up, African American leaders need to be more vocal about why health-care reform is needed in this country," said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League. "We challenge the lies and distortions and myths that have been utilized to try to defeat health care."

NAACP President Benjamin Jealous said his group is focusing on Blue Dog Democrats, several of whom represent districts in which African Americans make up more than 20 percent of the population. "We are there," he said. "We are watching you, and we expect you to do right. This issue could not be more serious in this recession."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/09/AR2009090901771_4.html?hpid=topnews

[hadrons]

1. They need to stand firm on this ....

[Fire1]

2. Trusr me. They will. n/t

[AspenRose]

5. Somebody should have listened to them in 2000

We might have had a shot at keeping President Gore.


I'm STILL pissed about that....

[Fire1]

3. K&R n/t

[bigwillq]

4. Good for them!

Keep fighting! :bounce:

[ej510]

6. They will be ignored.

[Fire1]

7. Probably. We all know "black folks ain't got no clout!" n/t

[ej510]

8. We have none with the President.

[Thrill]

9. Why do you say that? He's a member of the caucus

I think that is really unfair to basically say Obama doesn't care what they say

[ej510]

10. He has taken a hardline stance against progressives at every turn.

The firing of Van Jones is a sign. The fact he hasn't spoken loudly regarding dadt is another of many examples.

[Thrill]

11. He didn't fire Van Jones

Jones quit to keep people out his shit.

And he's in one of the toughest political fights ever on the issue of Healthcare. DADT isn't going to be done at the same time. Its just not. Thats reality

[Thrill]

12. He didn't fire Van Jones

Jones quit to keep people out his shit.

And he's in one of the toughest political fights ever on the issue of Healthcare. DADT isn't going to be done at the same time. Its just not. Thats reality